Rail-holding device.



W. R. BELL.

RAIL HOLDING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG-3. 1911.

1L fim fiww Patented May 28, L918.

RAIL-HOLDING DEVICE.

aeaeeo.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May as, for.

v I application filed August 3, 1917. Serial Ito. 184,329.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM R. B LL, a citizen of the United 'States, residing at Dunham,-in the county of Butler and State of Alabama, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail-Holding. Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is a bar having clamping or holding means for securing track rails in the proper position, at the proper gage, until the same can be properly spiked to the cross ties.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is of simplified construction, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure I is a side elevation of a device embodying y invention,

pig. 2 is a plan view of one end thereof, an

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. I.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates the tubular body portion of the device, to the ends of which are regidly secured fiat extensions or members 6, having their ends bent upwardly forming jaws 7 to engage:

with the base 8 of rails 9, as shown.

Pivoted upon the extensions or members 6, as shown at 9, are plates 10, carrying jaws 11, coacting with the first named jaws 7, for holding the bases of the rails 9 in place. At their inner ends, the plates 10 are provided with upwardly projecting extensions 12, to be conveniently struck by a hammer or the like, to swing the plates 10 into or out of the holding position.

In laying temporary tracks, such as those used in timber districts, it is necessary that they be constructed as quickly as possible, for effecting a saving in the cost of such construction. In my Patent No. 1,089,306 granted under date of March 3, I914, a construction car is shown, which is employed to load and unload, cross ties, rails or the like. In employing this machine, after a section of the track has been laid, including placing the ties upon the ground and the rails upon the ties, it is customary for the car to pass over the section of laidtrack without waiting for the rails to be spiked to. the cross ties, the spiking occurring after the car has passed on. My device holds the rails in the proper position and in the proper gage, while the construction car is passing thereover, prior to the spiking. In applying the device, any suitable number of them are arranged at suitable intervals. In applying each device, the plate 10 is swung upon its pivot to bring the jaw 11 to the inactive position, thus allowing the outer jaw 7 to receive the base 8 of the rail, subsequent to which the plate 10 is swung upon, its pivot to force the jaw 11 into holding or clamping engagement with the base 8.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described 7 is to be taken as a preferred example of the Same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to. without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A device of the character described, comprising a tubular bar; flattened end portions formed on the bar; upwardly extending jaws carried by the opposite end portions of the metal bar to engage the outer bases of parallel rails; plates pivoted between their ends to the flattened end portions of the bar, said plates being located inwardly of and adjacent the upwardly extending j aws carried by the end portions of the bar; upturned jaws formed on the end 'of the plates to: coact with the upwardly extending jaws carried by the end portions pf the bar inholding rails in place; and striking elements carried by theopposite ends of the plates.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Linn 1a. BELL Witnesses:

. U. A. LANE, I. Inna. 

